Cutting apparatus



Aug. 24, 1948. -n 2,447,976

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed May '7, 1946 INVENTOR. DA LE M C UR T/ S processing, thereby preventing Patented Aug. 24, 1948 a 2.4mm currmo mans-ms Dale M. Curtis, Nitro, Va"

on, corporation of Delaware can Viscose assignor to Ameri- Wilrnington, Del., a

Application May 7, 194, Serial No. 7,869

The present invention relates to apparatus for cutting continuous filamentary material into dis- -in which the continuous material is fed to a rotating member having a radial channel through scum (01. um)

which the material is directed outwardly, generally under the influence of centrifugal force and from which the material protrudes until cut by a cutting member which co-operates with the periphery of the rotating member. The general form of the cutting apparatus is shown in Beria Patent No. 1,723,998.

Occasionally, the fibers protruding from the rotating member are not completely severed, either because of dullness of the knife or equivalent cutting member, or because of improper co-action of the knife or filament cutting member with the rotating member.

When this occurs, the fiber product will contain a certain proportion of overlength fibers which may be two or three times as long as the fiber length desired. In accordance with the present invention, overlength fibers are detected and such detection initiates the operation of means for interrupting the delivery of the cut fibers to the next succeeding stage oi the mixing of overlength fibers with the standard length fibers. The detection of overlength fibers also operates an indicator or alarm. In this fashion, the operator is advised immediately of the improper t n tioning of the cutting apparatus. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description herein.

The drawing illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, the electrical connections being somewhat schematically shown.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention.

The cutting apparatus as shown in Figure 1 comprises a rotating member 2 which may be termed a rotating disc or cutting head. The rotating member I is provided with a radial channel I which communicates with the axial feeding member I into which the filamentary material I may bev fed downwardly by means of a delivery roll or godet I (or any equivalent feeding device such as a thread-advancing device comprising a pair of canted rolls, a thread-advancing reel, or the like) about which the material I is lapped one or more times to provide a good grip. The delivery roll I is driven by a shaft I and conventional driving means, not shown. A knife I is carried by a suitable bracket I fastened to a supporting frame II, so that the protruding fiber clump la is out each time the rotating member 2 carries it into contact with the knife I. The rotating member I may be supported in suitable bearings upon the support II and may bedriven by pulley I2 therebeneath.

One or more (two being shown) detecting fingers II are positioned radially outwardly from the periphery of the rotating member 2. Suitably, each finger II may be carried upon a transverse rod or shaft II pivotally mounted in a bracket II secured to the framework II. There is also secured to the rod II a mercury switch II. The pivotal assemblage of finger It, rod i4 and switch II are so balanced that the finger II extends downwardly and is positioned just outside the normal path of the protruding fibers Ia. Since the amount by which the fiber clump Io extends outwardly from the rotating member 2 depends upon the arcuate distance of the clump from the cutting member I at any particular portion of the path, the first detector finger II which the fiber clump Ia approaches after leaving the I position of the cutting member I is positioned a much shorter radial distance from the periphery of the member 2 than the subsequent detector finger or fingers II. However, each one is positioned Just outside the normal. path of the fiber clump, so that when the cutting apparatus is operating properly, there is no contact between the fiber clump Ia and the detector fingers II. The mercury switches II are normally open when the apparatus is functioning properly. However, when over-length fibers occur in the clump In, such fibers strike the detector finger or fingers II, and cause pivotal motion thereof about the axis of rod II, thereby swinging the mercury switch and closing its contacts.

The solenoid II is energized whenever one of the switches II is closed. Energization of solenoid II forces the core I'I downward against the upward pressure of spring II which normally holds the gate or dam II in its upper position, the rod IIa serving to support the dam from the core. The dam II is perforated and operates in the guideways II fastened to the side walls of the trough II which receives the cut fibers and along which the fibers of properlength are swept to the next:

processing stage as by a stream of fiuid, such as of water, hot or cold, discharged into the trough by the nozzle II. A signal light 2i and a sound alarm I! may be connected in the circuit so that the closing of switches II or any one of them also sounds the alarm and turns on the light to call the operator's attention to the improper functioning of the machine. An electric supply line 23 may be connected to the electrical control system by the master switch 24 during operation of the cutting apparatus.

The electrical controlling system so far described is essentially complete'lri i'tselfl' However, an auxiliary detector system may be provided to indicate any decrease in tension of the material proceeding from the delivery roll 6 to cutting head 2. This detector may take the form of a feeler 2B normally pressing against the material as it proceeds between rbll and cutter head 2 and mounted upon a shaft 28 plvotally supported within a. bracket 21 and carrying a mercury switch 2! which is normally open in the position shown when the filamentary material 5 is feeding properlyn When failure of the material 5 occurs because of breakage, ,or

whenever a decrease in tension occurs for any reason, the detector system 25, it and I8 swings pivotally in the direction shown by the arrow.

thereby closing the mercury switch 28, sounding the alarm 22 and lighting the light 2|. An

auxiliary stationary guide 28 may be provided in the bracket 21 to reduce fluctuation and vibration in the material I as it passes between the roll 8 and the cutter head 2.

While mercury switches it and 28 are dis-- closed, any other type of switch may be used. For example, the swinging of the detector systems may move a metallic contact into engagement with a stationary metallic contact in order to effect closing of the electrical control system.

The present invention provides for independent detection and signaling (1) of breakage, or failure of tension in the filamentary material as it proceeds from the roll 8 to the cutter 2 and (2) of the improper functioning of the cutting member In the latter 8 resulting in overlength fibers. event, the detector system initiates operation of means for interrupting the delivery of the improperly cut fibers to the next succeeding stage.

of processing (thereby preventing mixin of these fibers with the properly cut fibers) and means for notifying operators. a

It is to be understood that the description hereinabove is illustrative only, and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a device for cutting continuous filaments into discontinuous lengths comprising a, rotating member having a radial passage for discharging the filamentary material outwardly therefrom, a cutting member to which the rotating member presents the outwardly extending material to be cut, means for feeding continu- 'ous filamentary material to the passage in the rotating member, and means for delivering the cut fibers to a subsequent stage of handling: a

-movable element positioned along the path of the' material on its way to the subsequent stage, means for moving the element across the paththereby detaining the cut material therealong, and means positioned a predetermined distance radially from the rotating member for detecting filament ends of excessive length extending outwardly theremoving means.

' in the rotating member, and a trough for delivering the cut fibers to a subsequent stage of handling: a movable dam positioned along the path of the material on its way to the subsequent stage, means for moving the dam across the path thereby detaining the cut material therealong, and means positioned a predetermined distance radially from the rotating member for detecting filament ends of excessive length extending outwardly therefrom and for initiating operation of the moving means. v i

3. In combination with a device for cutting continuous filaments into discontinuous lengths comprising a rotating member having a radial passage for discharging the filamentary material outwardly therefrom, a cutting member to which the rotating member presents the outwardly extending material to be cut. means for feeding continuous filamentary material to the rotating member, and means for delivering the cut fibers to a subsequent stage of handlinma movable element positioned along the path of the material on its way to the subsequent stage, elec- .trical means for moving the element across the path thereby detaining the cut material therealong, and switch means positioned a predetermined distance radially from the rotating member for detecting filament ends of excessive length extending outwardly therefrom and for initiat ing operation of the electrical moving means.

4. In combination with a device for cutting continuous filaments into discontinuous lengths comprising a rotating member having a radial passage for discharging the filamentary material outwardly therefrom, a cutting member to which the rotating member presents the outwardly tax-- moving the dam'across the path thereby detaining the cut material therealong, and switch means positioned a predetermined distance radially from the rotating member for detecting filament ends of excessive length extending outwardly therefrom and for'initiating operation of the electrical DALE M. cua'ns.

REFERENCES crrsn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name Date 2,122,796 Horton July 5, 1938 2,424,555' Curtis July 29, 194'! Muddiman June 18, 1942 

